Warning as thief gang strikes NHS again

A gang of thieves, known by police as the Falcons, have been targeting NHS premises to steal belongings from staff.

The Trust has been told that one gang member, a 6ft man in his 50s with greying hair, has been approaching NHS sites and claiming to be a worker sent to review the fire extinguishers. He typically wears a black or navy jumper with a red, triangle logo on the front, and a zipper jacket over the top. During recent robberies, he has also been seen carrying a black clipboard and has occasionally been accompanied by a younger man.

The man asks for access codes for digital locks or for a blank swipe-card so that he can get his business completed as soon as possible. Sadly in most cases he has been given the codes by staff. He then steals personal property, e.g. credit cards and cash.

NHS Protect believes it has identified the main offender, but as yet hasn’t been able to get a positive ID. Photos of both suspects can be seen below.

Whilst we aren’t aware of any ambulance premises being targeted yet, we are asking everyone to be as vigilant as possible; please don’t allow anyone onto Trust property without checking their authority to be there with the relevant manager, or in this example for checking fire extinguishers, the estates team.

If you see these two men in the hospital environment, then please contact Anne Wright, our Local Security Management Specialist, as soon as possible so this information can be passed to NHS Protect. 

Published 29th October 2014